Which engine should I buy for Troy Bilt tiller

kurtos · Apr 15, 2009

I have a Troy Bilt horse tiller. I think the original engine is a 6 hp Tecumsen (very loud). I need a new engine and would like opionions on HP and make I should get.

I have been thinking either the Honda 6.5 hp or the Briggs 8 hp as seen here http://www.smallenginewarehouse.com/RepowerItems.asp?Brand=Troy-Bilt&Model=Horse%20Tiller This also seem to be the cheapest site I have found ($365 for Honda, item # GX200QX and $395 for Briggs - item # 202332-0563).

Do you think I would see much performance diff between the two? Which engine is quieter? Anyone know of a cheaper place to buy?

Any suggestions/opionions are appreciated! Thanks.

Roy in Ga · Apr 15, 2009

just from experience with the 6 hp b&s and honda the honda is quieter also make sure the exhaust will not interfere with anything because the ones I have dealt with are on different sides.

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Apr 15, 2009

While the Honda will be overhead valves, the Briggs will be the easiest to get parts for. One thing to consider is how the engine is attached to the tiller. Troy Bilt also used Briggs engines. I don't think they ever used Honda's. You might run into some problems trying to repower with different engines.

Roy in Ga · Apr 15, 2009

they bolt up the same mostly have the same external bolt hole locations for mounting pulleys too but my choice would be the B&S for this one.

RayP(MI) · Apr 15, 2009

Honda makes good engines. Depending on the model, B&S can be good, or not so good. Need to look very carefully at the mounting, and if you can make either engine fit. Once shoehorned a 18hp B&S Vangard V-Twin in a Deere 140 hydrostatic tractor. Has been a very good swap. Took a bunch of very carefully contrived modifications to make it work however! All things being even, I'd go with the Honda, but it's easy to spend someone else's money1

Larry D. · Apr 15, 2009

I'd go with the BRIGGS, Almost anywhere has parts readily Avail. for them, Larry

blinwmiaol.com · Apr 15, 2009

Do yourself a favor and forget about the Briggs. I have a landscaping company and the Hondas we have have lasted easily twice the life of the comparable Briggs. I myself have bought 3 engines from this ebay seller. One honda 8 horse to replace a 10 hrs briggs and 2 kawasakis. Have had the best experience with them.

RobMD · Apr 15, 2009

HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA.

'nuff said.

Paul from MN · Apr 15, 2009

I am pretty sure Briggs are still made in the USA. That means something to me.

old · Apr 15, 2009

No questions asked no hands down go with a Koler and you will never look back. About 30 years ago we replaced the Tecumseh engine on what was my dads 1972 troy and we put a Koler on it and it has run just fine ever since. 3 or 4 tranny rebuilds later and it is still tilling my garden 2 years after my dad died. Back when he ran it he will till about 2 acres with it every spring so it has seen a few thousand acres of tilling since 1972
Hobby farm

John B. · Apr 15, 2009

I got a 6hp B&S Intec engine from small engine warehouse.com for $198.00 2 years ago. It was a scratch and dent. Only thing dented was the shield around the muffler, I also got free shipping on it. Be sure to look hard at their inventory. The 6 hp is plenty powerful for your horse model.
smallenginewarehouse.com

John B. · Apr 15, 2009

You'll have more trouble with the Honda such as rocker arms breaking than you would have with a Briggs.

RodinNS · Apr 15, 2009

If you want an engine to start, run and do the job, buy a GENUINE HONDA GX single.
If you want something to wear yourself out on starting it, buy just about anything else. If you want to buy parts, buy a Briggs.
In my experinece with small engines, Honda's have been best... I have a Honda on a feed cart in the barn that runs every day with very little in the way of maintenance and no dountime, ever, aside from cleaning the plug about twice in 9 years,one pull cord and changing the oil every other year....
Leave it sit all summer, get on it, choke, full throttle, one rip. It's running. That's the HALLMARK of a Honda engine.
I've also spent some time around the fire department with Honda's, newer and older Briggs, Wajax, Kohler and Tecumse engines. I don't like the way any of them start except the Honda and the older briggs in particular seem to give constant trouble of some sort or another.
The Honda's, for years and years have been the workhorses in our portable pumps, and that's ALL about reliability.

If you want a cheap engine, mabey a Honda knockoff will do, but I think if you want something long lasting, go with the genuine thing. You'll pay more, but I think you'll find you get more.

Rod

plow hand · Apr 16, 2009

Ask a rental Co. anyone I've ever gone to 99.5% run Honda engines on their equipment..So what does that tell you???

blinwmiaol.com · Apr 16, 2009

I have had the exact opposite with my engines. I have never once had rocker arm problems with any of the Hondas I run. I have 3 of them on 3 wheel leaf blowers, one on a rototiller, one on a hay elevator as well as one on a Uebler feed cart. The Briggs on the other hand are infamous for breaking the chincy aluminum pushrods they use, and in the last 8 years have had 5 of them throw rods thru the block. I have gotten pretty good at taking them apart because the 3 Briggs we have left frequently have recoil problems, wether with the little white plastic dogs, the flimsy plastic throwout disc or the chincy tin recoil/fan flywheel cover.
You can keep the Briggs, I will take an engine that doesn't require babysitting.

Mike M · Apr 16, 2009

That's why when Dad ordered a new Horse Tiller in the 70's he got the Kohler engine.

I hear nothing but GOOD about Honda engines. If you can get one that bolts right on that may be the way to go.

Sean Feeney · Apr 16, 2009

What I read here is the Tiller runs but is loud ?
How often do you use it, my leaf blower is loud, but i won't be changing the running motor for less noise.

John B. · Apr 16, 2009

We have Honda engines on our water transfer pumps, always have trouble with the recoils, but I"m not the operator either. That can make a big difference.

I"ve run the Briggs for 20 years before and never had a problem with them. I can"t say that about the Honda"s.

Our used parts bins are filled with used Honda parts not Briggs parts.

I"ve only seen rods thrown because some time along the line they had to be run low on oil or run on an incline. Some Briggs did not have the hole drilled in the valve spring compartment to let the oil drain back in to the crankcase thus causing the engine to suck all the oil thru the intake valve guide, causing it to run low on oil after it consumed it all.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 16, 2009

depends what type of soil you are tilling . If hard gumbo or clay ,I'd go with a cummins turbo deisel. If lighter type soil ,I'd go with a built small block or a hemi .Really throw some dirt ! lol

El Toro · Apr 16, 2009

I put a 10hp B&S on this tiller in 2006. It had the 6hp Tecumseh and I sold it. The B&S has electric start too. I bought it from the smallenginewarehouse. Hal
PS: No problem with starting any B&S engine.

kurtos · Apr 16, 2009

Ya, I'm throwing the motor away because it is too noisy. I'm going to do this today right after I take my car to the junk yard because I don't like gray.

kurtos · Apr 16, 2009

Thanks for all the comments. It seems to be pretty split down the middle with opinions on which engine is better. I have been leaning towards Honda from the get go. I'm thinking the 1.5 HP diff would probably not make that much difference.

Thanks for all the advice!

Anonymous-0 · Apr 16, 2009

Honda's have the OHV's and are not as long lifed at the sidevalve Briggs. And the Briggs carb's are better too, way more simplified. Pull starters on the Honda's are weak too, break very easily since they are plastic.

Hobo,NC · Apr 16, 2009

I did just a little better,,, I got a 6.5HP Briggs electric start for $175 delivered from the same place (SEW)

It performs well,,, way better than the original Tumski :lol: but I am sure not as good a 10Hp the mutta of all brag'n rites 8)

I would not pay the difference for the Honda

BTW the 100 page are so owners/parts manual was at one time available on the net,,, down loaded mine form their site,,, got the info from this site

kurtos · Apr 16, 2009

Not bad. Was that for a Horse Troy Bilt HH60? Can"t seem to located that on their site. Thanks.

Hobo,NC · Apr 17, 2009

(quoted from post at 04:06:46 04/17/09) Not bad. Was that for a Horse Troy Bilt HH60? Can"t seem to located that on their site. Thanks.

May-B it was a 6HP @ $179,,, still a deal,,, they sure nuff sold out fast at that price :wink:

I would have went with more HP but at that time could not beat that price,,, time will tell if 6HP will B enuff,,, if I had to pay right much more I spec a 8HP would B hard to beat

I think the weight of the engine is a concern,,, the Briggs was liter so the controls on the tiller work muck better

If you go to the Troy-bilt site type in horse for the ser. # for the manual

TomMD · Apr 30, 2009

Rod is wrong about Briggs engines requiring parts. I rented a posthole drill a couple years ago from a rental company and it had a Honda engine on it - tough to start and would contantly "hunt" because the governor was messed up. That engine was not a great engine. Last year, I replaced a junker Tecumseh LEV engine on my mower with a Briggs Quantum I/C. The Briggs has been nothing but reliable, and every other Briggs I"ve owned has given flawless service. Honda makes some good engines, yes, but Briggs engines are excellent as well despite what Rob may say.

Which engine should I buy for Troy Bilt tiller

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